Sap-spout and cover.



No. 633,224. Patented Sept. 19, I899.

' E. .1. TEBBETTS.

SAP SPOUT Ann COVER.

(Application flied Mag 22, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

EDWARD J. TEBBETTS, OF LOlVER CABO'I, VERMON'I.

SAP-SP OUT AND COVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,224, dated September 19, 1899.

Application filed May 22, 1899. Serial No. 717,813. (No model.)

To all whm'n, in; may concern.

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. TEBBETTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lower Cabot, in the county of Washington and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sap-spouts and Covers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in sap-spouts and covers, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a View showing my invention in position in a tree. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View of theinner end of the spout. Fig. 4 is a modification of the construction of the cover, showing it made of metal instead of wood. Fig. 5 is aview showing a modification in the construction of the inner end of the spout.

Referring now to the drawings, A represents I the body of the spout, which is provided at its outer end with a dropping-lip B and at its inner end with an inclosed portion C, having a longitudinal opening in communication with the trough. Projecting inward from this closed portion C and integral therewith is a vertical Web (1, having recessesfin its opposite edges, and projecting horizontally from the web a are the two webs b. The outer ends of these Webs b are tapered, as shown, and do not reach to the inner end of the closed portion C, whereby large openings dare provided for the passage of sap through the portion C into the trough. The webs a and b are placed in an opening in the tree, as is usual, and the web b is to prevent the breaking of the bark and thereby the leaking of the sap.

The particular object of having the webs b tapered at their outer ends and not connected with the closed portion C is to provide an unobstructed opening for the passage of the sap at the outer edge of the tree adjacent the bark where the majority of the sap flows from. This particular arrangement of the horizontal webs I) does not interfere with the full delivery of the sap from that part of the tree from which most of the sap flows.

Projecting downward from the trough A just outside of the closed portion C is a hook D, by means of which the pail or bucket is suspended. Projecting from the upper edges of the trough at a point intermediate its ends are the parallel perforated ears F, to which a pail or bucket cover G is hinged at a point between its inner and outer edges. In Fig. 1 I show this cover composed of wood, in which case a strap H is screwed to the upper side of the cover and has its inner end provided with an in wardly-projecting perforated ear e',which passes between the ears F of the trough and through which a pivotal pin I passes. The inner edge of the cover G is provided with an outwardly-extending slot J, which receives the ears F and the trough'A. Preferably the cover is provided with depending beads K at opposite edges thereof to more perfectly protect the bucket or pail from the ingress of dirt or dust. A

WVhen it is desired to place the bucket in position or remove it from the trough, it is advantageous to turn the cover up, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. l, and'in orderto hold the coverin this position it is provided at its under side with a button L, adapted to be turned downward and to engage the projecting end of the trough, which will hold the cover upward and prevent it from being blown down. It is sometimes desired to turn the cover back from the bucket, and in order to prevent it from being blown down the button is useful for looking it in its raised position.

Connecting the upper ends of the ears F and the closed portion C is an inclined shield M, which is concaved on its upper surface. This shield catches the rain or dust falling downward and prevents it from entering the trough. The rain is carried to the bark of the tree, upon which it runs down Without entering the bucket. This arrangement constitutes an open trough, which is protected from rain and which is advantageous in cansing the sap to start earlier in the morning by enabling it to more quickly thaw out.

The advantage in having the ears F extending some distance above the trough is to give the cover a downward slant, whereby in a storm the water will more readily run therefrom and not be driven under the cover and into the bucket.

In Fig. 4 I show the cover composed of sheet metal instead of Wood and which is identically the same as that shown in Fig. l with the exception of the upturned lips v; at each side and at the inner ends of the slot 1, which lips have the advantage of shedding the water and preventing it from dripping through said slot into the bucket below.

Additional passages for the unimpeded flow of the sap to the spout are alforded by the recesses or notches f, formed in the upper and lower edges of the vertical web a. This construction prevents the web (6 forming two separated chambers in the treeopening, as would otherwise be the case, and by establishing communication at opposite sides of the web a I find that the flow of the sap is less interrupted and a better result obtained.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters latcut, is-

l. A sap spout comprising a trough portion having at its inner end a closed portion with a longitudinal opening communicating with the trough, a vertical web united to said closed portion, said vertical web provided with 0ppositel'y-projectinghorizontalwebs extending from opposite sides thereof, the inner ends of the horizontal webs being tapered, and the distance between the opposite edges of the rear ends of the horizontal webs being equal to the external diameter of the closed portion, substantially as described.

2. A sap-spout comprising a trough portion having means at its inner ends for attachment to a tree, and an inwardly-declined shield extending over a portion of the trough leaving open spaces at the sides thereof, substantially as described.

3. A sap-spout comprising a trough portion having between its ends upuardly-extending perforated ears, in combination with a hinged cover having at its inner edge an inwardlyextending slot, the cover hinged to the said trough-ears and adapted to be turned up as described.

4. A sap-spout comprisinga trough portion having between its ends upwardly-extending perforated ears, in combination with a cover having an inwardly-extending slot receiving said ears, the cover hinged to the ears, and an inclined shield connecting the upper ends of the cars and the inner portion of the trough and extending thereover, substantially as described.

5. A sap-spout comprising a trough having between its ends upwardly-extending ears, in combination with a cover having an inwardlyextending slot, the cover hinged to said ears, and a button carried by the cover at its inner side and adapted to engage the trough when the cover is turned upward for looking it in its upward position, substantially as described.

(3. A sap-spout comprising a trough having upwardly-extending ears between its ends, in combination with a cover having an inwardly-extendin g slot with upturned parallel ears pivotedto said trough-ears and depending side Walls, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD J. TEBBETTS.

Witnesses:

HIRAM WELLS, L. P. CoLE. 

